Button lathe and drill.



NO MODEL.

4 E. M. DENNISTON. BUTTON LATHE AND DRILL.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 13. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SEEET 1.

PATENTED SEPT. 6', 1904.

N0. 769,l5O.- PATENTED SEPT. e, 1904.

. E. M. DENNISTON.

BUTTON LATHE AND DRILL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.13, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

use

PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904,

E. M. DENNISTON. BUTTON LATHE AND DRILL.

APBLIOATION FILED MAR.13,1903.

, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NO MODEL.

shwzuhoz Q vil'nmoea N0. 769,150. 7 PATENTED SEPT, 6, 1904.

I E. M. DENNISTON.

BUTTON LATHE AND DRILL.

APYPLIOATION FILED MAR. 13. 1903. no 110mm. -SHEBTS-SHEET 4'.

1X i rumba;

UNITED STATES Patented September 6 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR DENNISTON, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

BUTTON LATHE AND DRlLL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,150, dated September 6, 1904.

Application filed March 13,1903.

To 00% whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR M. DENNISTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in-the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button Lathes and Drills; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. j

This invention relates to improvements in machines for forming buttons, and particularly to that class of machines which are capable of shaping button-blanks or cutting them with certain configurations and also of boring one or moreholes by which the buttons may be fastened to fabrics, garments, or the like.

The machine is especially well adapted for producing buttonsof mother-of-pearl and cutting them in various shapes, the pearl enter-. ing the machine in the form ofa blank and leaving the same a completedbutton.

The invention consists in a machine provided with button-chucks forcarrying buttonblanks, knives for engaging the said blanks, and boring-tools for drilling the same, together with means for presenting the chucks one after another first to the shaping-knives and then to the drills.

It also consists in a machine provided with button-blank-holding chucks, ashaping knife or knives for engaging the same, means for presenting the button-chucks successively to the knife or knives, and means for drilling said knife or knives in accordance with the movement of the chucks.

The invention further consists in a machine provided with one or more chucks for holding button-blanks and shaping-knives for engaging the same, of means for automatically feeding blanks to the chucks, and mechanism controlling said feeding means so as to insert blanks in the chucks at certainpredetermined times.

The invention also consists in mechanism for holding button-blanks comprising a number of chucks, shaping-knives, and drills for operating upon the blanks and a series of Serial No. l4'l,64=4. (No model.)

as well as of the knives and the chills, together i with cams for controlling the feed of buttonblanks to the said chucks.

It also consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying the features'of the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the button-machine, so as to reveal the relation of the blank-feeding mechanism to the chucks. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the button-feeding mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in elevation of the button-feeding device. Fig. 5' is a detail transverse sectional view through the same. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the cam mechanism for controlling the opening and closing ofthe button-chucks, as well as the means for controlling the rotation of the chucks when holes are being drilled in the'button-blanks. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view'through one of the chucks and the adjacent parts. 'Fig. 8 is a detail view,

partially in elevation and partially in section,

of the mechanism for controlling the movement of the chuck-carrying mechanism. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view, inside elevation, of the knife carrying and feeding mechanism. Fig. 10 is a. detail view, partially in elevation,

showing the means for slowly feeding the Fig. 11 is The machine is made up of a suitable baseframing 1, upon which the upper framing 2 is mounted, the upper framing carrymgstandards and other supportmg means for holding TOO in proper relative position button-chucks, cutl ters or knives, and drills. The frame 1 carries a main shaft 3, rotated through any suitable means, which shaft carries a series of pulleys for imparting movement to the mechanism carried by the upper frame 2. In the upper frame 2 is journaled a counter-shaft 1, which receives its motion through a belt 5 and gearing 6 from the shaft 3. The belt 5 operates a pulley 7 carried by a short shaft 8, which shaft is provided with a pinion 9, meshing .with a gear-wheel 10, secured to the countershaft 4. The belt 5 engages a comparatively small pulley 11 upon the shaft 3, which imparts a slower movement to the larger pulley 7 of the short shaft 8. The motion is still further reduced by the relative sizes of the pinion 9 and the larger gear 10, so that the counter-shaft4 has a speed much reduced with respect to the speed of the shaft 3. The shaft 1 carries a number of cams for operating different portions of the mechanism, as will be hereinafter described.

Rising from the upper frame 2 are standards 12, preferabl yoke-shaped, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, which yoke-frames are provided with bearings for receiving a chuckcarrying shaft 13. The shaft 13 carries crossheads 14., at the outer ends of which are provided bearings 15 for receiving the spindles of button-carrying chucks. The chucks are thus mounted in the machine so that they may be moved around the shaft 13 as an axis. One end of the shaft 13 is provided with a pulley 16, which is connected, by means of a belt 17, with asmaller pulley 18 upon the shaft The pulley 16 is provided with a series of stops 19, preferably projecting from one side thereof, which are adapted to be engaged by a spring-pressed bolt 20, carried by a standard 21 upon the frame .2. The bolt is normally held in the path of the stops 19 by the spring engagingit, but may be retracted therefrom from time to time by means of a lever 22, fulcrumed, on the frame 2; at 23. One end of the lever engages the end of the bolt 20, while the other end thereof engages a cam 24:, secured to the shaft 4., The end of the lever 22 which bears upon said cam is preferably Provided with an antifrietion wheel or roller 25,, so as to move more freely over the surface of said cam. As the cam 24;- is rotated the bolt 20 is retracted at the proper time to permit the pulley 16 to be actuated by the belt 17, The bolt 20 will, however, be shot again by a spring into the path of the stops 19 in time to engage the next succeeding stop. hen the stops are engaged by the bolt 20. the belt 17 will slip upon the small pinion 18 until the drum 16 is again released. In this manner the belt 17 is always in readiness to actuate the pulley 16 as soon as it is released, and the shaft 13 is thus automatically controlled for moving the button-carrying chucks and presenting them first to a shaping cutter or knife and then to a drill.

The button-chucks are each formed with a chuck-spindle 26, having a chuck-head 27 at one end for gripping a button-blank, while a sleeve 28 surrounds the greater portion of the spindle and is normally pressed toward the chuck-head 27 for closing the springgripping fingers of said head about a buttonblank. The sleeve is thus normally held against the chuck-head by means of a spring 29. The sleeve 28 carries a pulley 30 for engaging a belt 31, the said belt connecting the pulleys of the chucks with a pulley 32 upon the shaft 3, whereby the chucks may be properly rotated. The sleeve 28 is formed with a screw or pin 33, which engages an elongated groove or recess 31 in the chuckspindle 26, so that the said sleeve may be moved with respect to the spindle, but will turn the spindle when rotated. is preferably bifurcated at the end opposite to the chuck, each projection formed by such bifurcation carrying a pin which pivotally engages a bifurcated lever 35. By moving this lever the sleeve may be moved in or out for opening or closing the chuck-head. There is one lever 35 for each of the chucks, and these levers are preferably fulcrumed upon one of the cross-heads 1 1, so as to have their inner free ends projecting to a point near the shaft 13.

In the arrangement of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings the cutter or shaping-knife is mounted at the top of the machine, while the drill is mounted below the same, so that when the cross-heads 14; are rotated they are stopped first opposite the knife and then opposite the drill. The position occupied by the chuck -spindles therefore when the cross-heads are held stationary at intervals is such that one is above the shaft 13. The other is below. as illustrated in Fig. 2. The belt 31 will rotate the upper spindle, and the disposion of the cross-heads is such that the pulley 30 of the lower spindle will also touch the belt at one point, so that it is in position to be actuated by the said belt whenever it is free to rotate. The chuck which is uppermost should be rotated continually, since the button-blank carried thereby 1s presented to the shaping-knife. The

The sleeve the-lever 36 is connected by a piri-and-slot con-,

nection with a reciprocating-rod 37 mounted in a'suitable bearing carried by the frame 2. This bolt is normally held, by means of a spring or other similar'device, against the slide 6 of a cam 38,'which is secured to the shaft 4. At a proper pointthe cam is provided with a raised cam-surface 39, upon which the end of the rod 37 rides for operating the lever 36, so as to force its upper end inwardly against the end of the lever 35, which is then opposite tosaid end. After holding the chuck open a sufiicient time to' permit ofthe removal of the finished button and the insertion of a blank the rod 37 is permitted to retractunder the action of its spring'and the chuck again to close, gripping a new blank. Of course it will be understood that as the cross-heads 14 revolve with the shaft 13 at intervals each lever will be brought successively oppositethe end of the lever 36 and be operated thereby.

' While the chucks are opposite the drilling mechanism they are held from rotating under the influence of the belt 31 by means of a bolt 4O, which projects into the path of the teeth of the ratchet 41, carried upon one face of each of the pulleys 30. This bolt is normally pressed upwardly against said ratchet, so as to prevent its turning, by means of a spring 42.

The lower end of the bolt 40 extendsdOwnwardly to they cam 38 and to a point one side of the periphery thereof. This end of the bolt is provided with a lateral projection'43, which is engaged at predetermined periods'by campieces 44, secured to one face of the cam 38.

' and gradually pullthe rod or bolt 40 downwardly, so as tomomentarily release the ratchet 41 and permit the chuck-spindle to be.

These cam faces 44 are so shaped that their pointed ends will engage'the projection 43 By the'time the button has been thus drilled with the required number of holesthe blank held by the chuck opposite the shaping-knife will have been completed, andthe lever 22 will be actuated to release the pulley 16 for changing the positions of-the chucks;

On the end of the frame 2 opposite that carrying the moving chucks are standards 45,

provided with bearings for receiving reciprocatlng bars or rods 46 and 47. The rod 46 -carr1es at its Inner end a shaping cutter or knife'48, while the rod-47 carries a button-drill 49. Both of the bars 46 and 47 are normally actuated away from the-chucks by means of springs 50 and 51.

The shaft 46 ismoved ing the lever 56. stood that if only two holes were to be bored toward the chuck at the proper time by means of a lever 52, which is fulcrumed upon one of the standards 45 and at one end engages the 1 outer end of the bolt or rod 46, while the other end engages a cam 53. This end of the lever 52 is preferably provided with an antifrictionroller54 for engaging the surface of the cam 53.

posite the knife-rod for shaping, the cam 53 will actuate the lever 52 so as to press the cutter against the button-blank. The-extent'to which the knife is forced inwardly can be regulated by a set-screw 55, carried by the lever 52 and engaging the end of the rod 46.

When the new button-blank has been properly secured in the chuck and is held op- The drill 49 is moved back and forth in a similar manner to that just described with re-- spect to the cutting mechanism. The spring 51 retracts the drill from a button, while a lever 56, engaging the end of the drill-shaft 47,

forces the said shaft forwardly against the button at a proper time. This lever 56 is fulcrumed on the frame 2 and is provided with an a'ntifriction-roller 57, which engages a cam 58. the shaft 4, which actuates them. If there are four holes to be bored in'the buttons, there will be four raised cam-surfaces 59 upon the cam 58. This cam 58 is so positioned as to act in conjunction with the cam 38 and every time a new portion ofa button is presented to Both the cams 53 and 58 are secured to 1'90 the drill the drill will be forced forward by one of the projections 59 of the cam 58 engag- Of course it will be underin a button there would be only'two projecon the cam 38. So, also, the cams might be tions 59 on the cam 58 and two cam-pieces 44 altered to bore three or any other number of 7 holes in thebutton-blankw All the cam mechanisms of the machine are arranged so as to work conjointly and in proper relationship to each other, so that every part proper time. means of a pulley 60, secured thereto, the said pulley being connected bya suitable belt 61 with the larger pulley 62, carried by the driving-shaft 3. The'drill is thus rotated at a considerable speed at all times and is always ready is capable of performing its function at the i The drill-shaft 47 is rotated'by for boring the necessary holes in the buttonblanks.

The means for feeding button-blanks to' the chucks is mounted upon one'of the standards 12 just to one side of the chucks when they are in their highest positions. This means consists in a button-chute 63, which is preferably open at one side. The chute extends downwardly to gripping and feeding mechanism, which iscarried upon a laterally-extend. ing casing 64 Sliding upon one face of the casing 64 is a grooved plate 65, which carries another plate 66. The slide 65 is normally pulled outwardly by means of a spring 67 and upon its face slidably mounted in its groove is forced inwardly at suitable moments by a bell-crank lever 68. The lever 68 is pulled by a cam-engaging lever 69, with which it is connected by means of an elongated rod 70. The lever 69 is fulcrumed on the yoke 12,- and its free end projects into the path of a cam projection 71, formed upon one portion of the periphery of a cam 72. The lever 69 is normally held in engagement with a cam 7 2 by means of a spring 73, the said spring also operating to retract the plate 66 as soon as the cam 7 2 will permit. The bell -crank lever 68 primarily moves the slide 66 and forces the same against a button-blankwhich has been dropped between its gripping end 7 4 and the enlarged head 75,

carried by the plate 65. In this manner both the plates and 66 are moved so as to bring the button-blank opposite the end of one of the chucks which happens to be uppermost at that time. The plate 65 is formed with an aperture 76 directly beyond the button-blank, so that when the button-blank is opposite the chuck it may be forced out of the gripping-jaws of the plates 65 and 66 into the gripping-jaws of the chuck by means of a plunger 77. The plunger 77 moves in a bearing formed in the arm 78, projecting from the face of the plate 66. The plunger is operated by a lever 7 9. which is normally actuated by a spring 80 for retracting the plunger 77. The lever 79 is fulcr'umed upon the arm 78, and its free end is engaged by the end of the bell-crank lever 81, which is fulcrumed at 82 upon the standard carrying the chute 63. The bell crank lever 81 is connected by a rod 83 with a lever 84, fulcrumed near the cam 72. The free end of said lever 84: engages the cam projection 85 on the periphery of said cam 7 2. As clearly seen in Fig. 2, the cam projection 85 is much shorter than the projection 71, so that as the cam 7 2 revolves the plunger-carrying slides will be first moved, with the button-blank, opposite the chuck, after which the plunger 77 will be actuated and permitted to retract before the lever 69 is released by the projection 71 of the cam 7 2. Upon such release the plates 65 and 66 return to their original position for receiving a new button-blank, which will drop be tween their jaws as soon as they are opened at the bottom of the chute 63. In this man ner the button-blanks will beautomatically taken and placed in the button-carrying chucks at the proper time. The cam 7 2 operates in conjunction with the other cams of the machine, since the said ,cam is carried by the shaft 1.

The shaping-knife 18 is carried in a suitable framing 86, mounted upon the inner end of the reciprocating bar 16. This framing is arranged at an incline with respect to said bar,

. so as to present the cutting edge of the knife properly to the buttons held by the adjacent chucks. In order to maintain the knife in a sharp condition, it engages an emery-wheel 87 upon each reciprocation of the bar 46. The emery-wheel is mounted above the knife-carrying casing, its under surface being arranged so as to engage the cutting end of the knifeplate. The emery-wheel is preferably carried by a vertical shaft 88, having secured to it a pulley 89, which is connected, by means of a belt 90, running over guide-pulleys 91, with an actuating-pulley 92. By this means the emery wheel is kept continually revolving when the machine is in operation. in order to take up the wear produced upon the knife by the cutting of the buttons and by the action of the emery-wheel for maintaining it in a sharp condition, a suitable mechanism is employed to feed the knife forwardly in its fra n1- ing at a proper speed. The knife of course wears very slowly and the feeding forward of the knife must consequently be correspondingly slow. 1 have mounted the knife so as to pass through a guide-slot 93, formed in the framing 86, and employ a set-screw 9i for engaging the upper surface of the knife and keeping the knife very snugly against its hearing, so that there will be practically no vibration of the knife in its bearing.

The lower end of the knife is inserted in a. recess formed in a block and is removably clamped in position in said recess by a setscrew 96. The block 95 is formed with a screw-threaded aperture which engages the threads of a screw or worm 97, which is journaled in the framing 86 and extends longitudinally thereof parallel with the knife -18. The rotation of the screw 97 will feed the knife forwardly. The lower end of the screw projects beyond its lower bearing a suflicient distance to receive ratchet-wheels 98 and 99. The ratchet-wheel 98 is loosely mounted on the screw, while the ratchet-wheel 99, which is of a less diameter than the wheel 98, is rigidly secured to said screw, so as to turn the same when it is actuated. Mounted adjacent to the ratchet-w heels 98 and 99, upon the framing 86, is a lever 100, which is pivoted upon the end of the screw, being held in position thereon by means of a collar 101. This lever is normally drawn in one direction by means of a spring 102, which connects the short end of the lever with a projection 103, upon the framing 86. Upon the other side of the pivotal point of said lever from the spring is a pawl 10 1. The pawl is pivoted to an arm 105, projecting from the lever, and is drawn against the periphery of the ratchet-wheels by means of a spring 106. The end of the lever which extends beyond the pawl 10-1is provided with an adjustable nose 107, which engages a projection or cam surface 108 on one of the standards of the frame, as 45,at each backward movement of the cuttingapparatus. By this means the lever 100 is moved to one side suiiicientl y to cause the pawl 10 1 to move the ratchet 98 one step or tooth. As shown in Fig. 10, all

of the spaces between the teeth of the ratchetwheel 98 are sufiiciently shallow to prevent the nose of the pawl 10% from engaging any of the ratchet-teeth of the ratchet 99. One of the spaces or notches, as 109, in said ratchetwheel98 is.'however, made much deeper than the others, so that when the pawl 104 engages the same 'it'will dropand allow the knife to engage a toothof the ratchet wheel 99 and will turn the same one step, thus turning the' screw 97 and feeding the cutter 4C8 forward to a slight degree. By the above arrangement a complete revolution.

' only be turned to a slight degree for forcing the knife forward in its framing.

andyet effective means for keeping the knife always sharp is found in practice to be a great advantage in'shaping buttons, such as pearl or the like. Asthe-buttonchucks are revolvedagain st the end of the knife the blanks are cut in accordance with the shape of the cutting edge of the knife 48.

From the above description itwill be seen that by the present invention it is only neces- I .sary to feed button-blanks into the chute 63' and impart movement to the upper shaft 13 'in order to have such blanks presented, one

after another, toa shaping-cutter, and then to a drill, after which they will be dropped from the machine in a completed condition.

The parts of the machine for accomplishing the various functions of workare in a proper relation to each other and are perfectly timed, so that by the action of the cams there can be no chance of difficulty or of having one operation out of proper time with respect to some other operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a button-forming machine, a rotatable cross-head mounted on a shaft, a driving-pulley on said shaft, amain driving-shaft, means actuated therefrom for rotating said crosshead, a plurality of rotatable chucks in said cross-head, each of said chucks being normally freely revoluble when in a position distant from said main shaft, and being normally locked against rotation in anopposite position, and means actuated by said main shaft for causing continued rotation of the remote chuck and intermittent partial rotation of the nearer chuck.

2. In a button-forming machine, arotatable rotation in an opposite position, and means actuated by said main shaft for causing con' This simple tinued rotation of the remote chuck and intermittent partial rotation of the nearer chuck.

3. A button-machine comprising ashaft, a cross-head carried thereby, chucks supported at the opposite ends of said cross-head, pulleys for rotating the chucks, a larger pulley for transmitting motion to the chuck-pulleys, a belt connecting the same and means for stopping the cross-head so that one pulley will engage the said belt and the other pulley remaining normally at rest, and means for causing intermittent partial rotation of said last-mentioned pulley at predetermined in-,

tervals.

' L. A button-machine formed with a crosshead, chucks carried at the opposite ends thereof, pulleys for rotating the chucks continuously when in one position, a belt for engaging the pulleys and actuating them, a pulley for rotating the cross-head, means for stopping it in its rotationat suitable intervals and means for causingintermittent partial rotation of one of the chucks atsuitable intervals. I

5. A button-machine provided with blankholding chucks, a cross-head carrying the same, a pulley for revolving the cross-head, said pulley having stops projecting therefrom,

a reciprocating bolt projecting at one end into the path of said stops, means for rotating the pulley and chucks when the pulley is released,

distances from each other, the cutter being relatively fixed and the drill constantly ro- 'tated, means for rotating the chuck-pulleys and means for engaging the ratchet carried by each pulley when it is opposite the drill for permitting it to have an intermittent rotary movement from .said belt and means for forcing the drillforwardly against the button at corresponding intermittent periods.

7. A button-machine provided with buttonblank-carrying chucks, means for rotating the said blank-chucks, a frame carrying the button-chucks and also capable of rotation for altering the position of the chucks in the machine, a shaping cutter for engaging the blanks carried by the'chucks, a drill alsofor engaging the blanks, and means for causing intermittent rotation of the chuck-frame, means for rotating the chuck which is opposite the cutter continuously against said outter, said means also engaging the chuck oppo' site the dr1ll, butnormallv out of engagement therewith, and means for causing the same to I intermittently rotate the said latter chuck for stantially as described.

8. A button-machine comprising a crosshead, a shaft carrying the same, a pair of chucks mounted at the opposite ends of the cross-head, a cutter in a fixed supportingbracket arranged in position to be opposite the chuck when in its highest position and a drill arranged to be opposite the other chuck when in its lowest position and means for rotating the cross-head for bringing the chucks alternately opposite the cutter and the drill, and a belt engaging both of the chuck-spindles and capable of rotating them only when opposite the cutter.

9. A button-machine provided with blankcarrying chucks, a frame carrying the said chucks and capable of rotation in the machine, means for rotating the frame at intervals for bringing the chucks opposite button-forming means, levers for opening each of the said chucks, said levers traveling with the chucks, a stationary lever mounted on the frame so as to be opposite the chuck levers when the chucks are stopped, and a cam for operating and constantly tending to rotate the same, a

pulley for operating the same, stops carried by the cross-head pulley and cam-actuated means for engaging the same at intervals, stops carried by the chuck-pulleys and means for engaging the same, a cam for withdrawing the said means at intervals, shaping-tools for engaging the button-blanks, means for reciprocating the same and cams for engaging said means and a shaft carrying all of said cams for timing their operation with respect to each other.

11. A button-machine comprising a rotating frame carrying blank-holding chucks, means for opening said chucks at a certain point in the machine, means for feeding blanks to said chucks While in such position, said means comprising a primary and secondary slide carrying gripping-jaws, springs for retracting said slides, a lever for forcing the gripping-jaws together and bringing the button-blank opposite a chuck, a plunger for forcing the blank into the chuck, cams for'operating the slidelever and the plunger-lever, said cams being timed with respect to the action of the chuckframe, substantially as described.

12. A button-machine provided with button-blank-carrying chucks, a frame for rotating the same, means for rotating the chucks in said frame comprising a pulley carried by bringing different portions of the button" each chuck and a belt for communicating motion thereto, a ratchet carried by each of the chuck-pulleys, a bolt projecting into the path of the teeth on said ratchet, a cam having a series of cam-surfaces for retracting said bolt at intervals so that the chuck may turn to present different portions of a button-blank to a drilling mechanism,substantially as described.

13. A button-machine provided with button-gripping chucks, a rotating frame carrying the same, means for opening the chucks at certain points in their rotation, and means for rotating the chucks in said frame at intervals, a cam having a lateral-facing surface for controlling the chuck-opening mechanism and provided with peripheral cam-blocks for controlling the chuck-rotating mechanism, substantially as described.

14:. A button-machine provided with button-blauk-holding means, a shaping cutter for engaging said blanks, means for reciprocating the cutter, and means for feeding the cutter forward at intervals to take up wear upon the cutting edge comprising a feedingscrew, means for connecting the cutter therewith, and a fast and loose ratchet-wheel engaging the screw and a pawl for actuating the same, substantially as described.

15. A button-machine comprising means for holding button-blanks and a shaping-cutter, a shaping-cutter for engaging the same, means for feeding the cutter forward at intervals comprising a screw, a block carried by the cutter and engaging the said screw, a loose ratchet-wheel mounted on the screw, a smaller fixed ratchet-wheel carried by the screw, a lever mounted adjacent to the ratchets, a pawl carried thereby and capable of engaging both ratchets, the teeth of the loose ratchet preventing the pawl from engaging the fixed ratchet except at one point, substantially as described.

16. A button-machine provided with means for holding button-blanks, a cutter for shaping the same, means for feeding the cutter forward to replace wear at intervals comprising a screw mounted in the cutter-casing, means carried by the cutter for engaging said screw, a fast and a loose ratchet-wheel carried by the screw, a pawl pivoted to the lever and arranged to engage the peripheries of the ratchets, means for moving the lever back and forth, the steps between the ratchet-teeth of the loose ratchet being of such a depth as to keep the pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the fast ratchet except at one point where the space between the teeth is made quite deep, substantially as described.

17. A button-machine comprising means for carrying button-blanks, means for feeding said blanks to said carrying means comprising a guide-casing. a slide moving therein carrying a button-engaging jaw, a second slide moving upon the first slide and carrying a second jaw, an arm mounted on the second slide, a reciprocating plunger mounted in said arm, a. lever for operating the plunger, a bellcrank lever for moving the shdes, a bellcrank lever for moving the plunger-lever, a

cam for actuating the said bell-crank levers, said cam having an elongated lever-actuating surface on a portion of its periphery and a shorter lever-actu ating surface on another portion of its periphery, said long cam-surface moving the button-slides'opposite the buttonoperates the plunger permitting the same to returnbefore the slides are returned; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afli'x my signature in presence of tWoWitnesses.

EDGAR M. DENNISTON. Witnesses:

e (J. .H. MoHLAND,

S. J. BEoKMAN.

carrying means While the other cam-surface- 

